Container attachable to another container for mixing ingredients

ABSTRACT

A chamber member for containing a flavored powder or cereal for attaching to a container containing spring water or milk respectively in a manner for mixing the ingredients. The chamber member is molded to define a port extending therein and having a threaded cylindrical wall for threadedly receiving a threaded neck of the container. The chamber member has a portion which is integral with the cylindrical wall and sealingly closes an inner end of the port. The chamber member has a score line formed into and extending partially around the portion thereby defining a breakaway disc having an unscored hinge portion. The breakaway disc is slanted relative to the port cylindrical wall to allow initial contact by the neck with the breakaway disc at a location opposite the unscored hinge portion as the neck is threadedly advanced in the port to allow mixing of the ingredients. Instructions are provided for mixing the ingredients, including instructions on how to locate a suitable container.

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/167,437, filed Jun. 27, 2005, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates generally to bottles or containers orchamber members. More particularly, the present invention relates tocontainers/chamber members which allow ingredients to be mixed to form aproduct, which is then dispensed from a container opening or otherwisesuitably used. For example, such a container/chamber member may be usedto allow a customer to mix ingredients such as peroxide/activator anddye to form a hair coloring and then dispense the hair coloring throughan opening in the container.

An example of a current container system for mixing and dispensing haircoloring is one which contains in two bottles the dye andperoxide/activator respectively. To use, a customer opens both bottlesand pours the dye from one bottle into the bottle containing theperoxide/activator. He or she then recaps the peroxide bottle, shakes itto mix the ingredients, then pours the mixed hair coloring onto his orher hair.

An example of such a container system is found in U.S. Pat. No.7,066,323 to Reisman. Referring to FIG. 6 thereof, Reisman disclosesupper and lower interlocking containers formed of synthetic plasticresin (col. 2, lines 51 and 52) for mixing ingredients contained thereinrespectively. The upper bottle has a threaded inner cylindrical wall forthreadedly receiving a threaded neck of the lower container. The innerend of the opening is closed by a disk which is mechanically attached(col. 3, lines 63 and 64) to the cylindrical wall. A continuous circularnotch or score resides at the intersection of the disc and thecylindrical wall (col. 3, last 3 lines). It is disclosed that the scorecan also be non-continuous (col. 6, line 57). A seal is affixed to theend of the neck and a pull tab portion thereof allows it to be removed(col. 3, lines 4 to 7). The lower container neck also has a cap which isremoved prior to insertion of the neck into the cylindrical wall. Asseen in FIG. 6 and also in FIG. 2 of Reisman, by screwing the neck intothe cylindrical wall, the disc is broken away to allow mixing of theingredients contained therein respectively. Also a seal cutter on thedisk comes into contact with a seal on the outer end of the neck of thesecond container (col. 4, lines 17 and 18). The upper container has anupper opening in the form of a threaded neck through which the mixedingredients may be drank or removed. Since the upper and lowercontainers are described as “substantially similar” (col. 3, lines 24 to28, and col. 4, lines 11 to 15), it may be asserted that the cap removedfrom the bottom container neck also fits the upper container upperopening. As seen in FIG. 12 of Reisman, the volumetric size of thecontainers can be varied depending on their contents (col. 6, lines 37to 43).

Seal 32 in FIG. 3 of Reisman, like disc 52 of FIG. 6 of Reisman, also ismechanically affixed to the cylindrical wall so as to cover the openingand is deformed upon entrance of the neck into contact therewith. Seal32 is disclosed (col. 6, line 60, to col. 7, line 6) as beingmechanically attached by a “thin cellophane, aluminum, paper or plasticseal” and that it may be mechanically attached by glue or heat sealing.

More examples of mixing and dispensing containers may be found in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,065,641; 3,443,726; 5,071,034; 4,693,366; and 4,936,445,which are discussed in parent U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/167,437. Additional examples of mixing and dispensing containers maybe found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,631,521; 3,347,410; 3,349,966; 3,548,562;3,610,586; 3,809,289; 4,067,440; 4,177,938; 4,244,467; 4,271,982;4,638,927; 4,682,689; 4,785,931; 4,823,946; 5,152,965; 5,277,303;5,405,051; 5,411,295; 5,514,394; 5,884,759 (reissued as Re38,067);5,890,596; 6,068,396; 6,073,803; 6,135,275; 6,247,586; 6,543,645;6,609,634; 6,634,821; 6,910,573; 6,935,493; and U.S. patent applicationpublications 2002/0104766 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,156,227);2002/0130126; and 2002/0150658.

As discussed in greater detail hereinafter, it is considered to bedesirable that one of the containers/chamber members be a standard itemwhich one can purchase off the shelf—an item which may or may not besold independently by another marketer.

FIG. 19 of U.S. patent application publication 2006/0237095 to Johns etal (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,915) discloses an upper bottle with adispensing port on its top end and a mixing port on its bottom end forreceiving a standard or conventional threaded spout of a lower bottle,which also utilizes a conventional bottle cap, for mixing ingredients inthe bottles respectively (col. 8, lines 53 to 58). The dispensing portmay be closed by a threaded cap or by a cap press fit thereon and sealedwith a removable strip (col. 8, lines 19 to 27, of the patent).References herein being to the patent, the ingredients may includecereals or any other form of a consumable ingredient substance orsolution which may be mixed to form a reconstituted beverage, shake,food product or the like (col. 8, lines 4 to 8). It is stated (col. 8,lines 14 to 16 and lines 41 to 43) that the shape and volumetric size ofeach of the bottles may vary depending on the products being packagedand marketed. When the bottle neck is installed into the mixing port, aseal from the upper bottle is broken to allow the ingredients to bemixed (Abstract and see FIGS. 7, 11, and 17 of Johns et al). A docketingconnector is provided so that the ingredients “can be marketed and soldtogether as a complete package if so desired” (col. 9, lines 3 to 8).

The seal is described as an hermatic seal which is applied to a flangesurface with adhesive and made of any material known to be used in foodor beverage packaging seals and having a series of intersectingperforations, indentations, or embossed lines or pre-stressed seams toassist its breaking into “slices” (col. 9, lines 23 and 24 and lines 38to 46).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,229 to Seckler (issued from U.S. patent applicationpublication 2003/0205548) discloses a bottle adapter having an internalthreaded portion that engages threads on a bottle neck and has anopening closed by frangible seal (or alternatively a removable andreplaceable seal) which is engagable by the neck to remove the seal toallow mixing of contents in the bottle and adapter respectively. Theseal may be attached by an adhesive or alternatively formed from thesame material that forms the internal threaded portion. The adapter hasan externally threaded upper opening for application of a drinkingassembly such as a baby bottle cap and nipple. The composition to bemixed includes a water-mixable drink preparation such as a beverage mix.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,291 contains a discussion of two-chamber vials fordrugs wherein two chambers are separated from each other in awater-tight manner by a septum, including what are referred to as the“Univial” and “Add-vantage” and “Smart Dose” systems of AbbottLaboratories and SmithKline Beecham and IVAC Medical Systemsrespectively, and refer the reader to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,258,845;4,871,354; 5,335,773; 5,336,180; 5,350,372; 5,385,546; 5,398,850; and5,398,851. The Add-vantage system uses a standard glass vial with astandard stopper. This is then encased in a plastic shell. Asunderstood, in use, the plastic shell cap is removed, the lower shell,containing the vial, screws into a female fitment on the IV bag. Thisfitment contains a hollow needle (like a syringe needle) which puncturesthe rubber stopper and allows mixing. The components are sold separatelyand combined at the time of use, for example, an IV bag of salinesolution from Baxter combined at time of use with an Add-vantage bottlecontaining penicillin produced by Wyeth. The Univial system is alsounderstood to also use a plug, which is forced out of a sealing positionat the narrow portion of an hourglass container and into a wider portionof the container to allow mixing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,404,811 to Cernei discloses a container for maintainingin upper and lower plastic receptacles liquids wherein the receptacleshave a screw threaded connection (a threaded neck on the upperreceptacle which threadedly engages a threaded opening in the lowerreceptacle) may be manipulated to comingle the liquids, and the upperreceptacle also has a closable opening. A fragile closure element orseal is seated on an internal shoulder at the opening inner end. Theelement is a disc of metal, plastic, rubber, or the like. The neck has amore or less sharpened end edge portion to pierce or break the closureelement when the receptacles are screwed together beyond a predeterminedlimit. To hold the receptacles against such rotation to cause breakageof the seal when the receptacles are initially assembled a removablespacer element is positioned between the receptacles in engagement withend faces.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,481 to Hundermark et al discloses first and secondcontainers for containing first and second components to be mixedtogether prior to use, the first container including a dispensing nozzlesealed by a cap when not in use. The first container also includes abottom port sealed by a removable plug from the interior thereof. To mixthe components together, a user unscrews a cap from the second containerand screws the neck of the second container into a threaded boss of askirt secured to the bottom of the first container for forcing a topportion of the neck of the second container into the bottom port of thefirst container for frictional engagement therewith and for forcing theplug out of the port into the interior of the first container. Thejoined containers can then be shaken to mix the components together andthen dispensed through the dispensing nozzle.

The provision of a separate seal and the requirement for its attachmentundesirably creates complications in and increases cost of themanufacturing process and reduces integrity of the seal.

In today's hectic world, it is considered desirable to be able toconveniently mix and drink or eat two or more ingredients while “on therun,” without awkwardness and spillage and the like. For example, it maybe desired to purchase and flavor ordinary spring water and drink it asone is headed for a meeting, without having to first go home to mix itin one's kitchen. From a marketing standpoint, it may be considereddesirable to sell the flavoring ingredient separately from the springwater so that the flavoring ingredient may be used with a standardspring water bottle sold by another marketer. On the other hand, amarketer may desire to sell both the flavoring ingredient and the springwater, either as a unit in a convenient package or separately.

For another example, it may be desired to eat cereal mixed with milkwhile “on the run,” again without awkwardness and spillage and the like.It is considered to be desirable to be able to utilize a standard bottleof milk for this purpose, which may again be sold separately, even bydifferent marketers, or as a unit or separately by the same marketer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aconvenient system for mixing ingredients for eating or drinking while“on the run,” without awkwardness or spillage or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a chambermember containing one ingredient wherein the other ingredient may beobtained from a standard container which is purchased as part of apackage or which is purchased separately.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such acontainer system which is simple and foolproof to manipulate.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such acontainer system wherein at least one of the containers/shamber membersmay be made cost effectively on standard plastic molding machinery.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such acontainer system wherein the seal may be broken effectively to remainattached so that it does not undesirably float freely in the chambermember.

In order to provide such a container system, in accordance with thepresent invention, a chamber member is provided which has a threadedport extending into the chamber member and whose inner end is sealed,the seal being molded integrally with the chamber member to providegreater seal integrity as well as to minimize manufacturing costs. Inorder to effect effective breaking of the disc so that it remainsattached so that it does not float freely in the chamber member, theseal has a score line extending partially around the seal therebydefining a breakaway disc having an unscored hinge portion, the discbeing slanted relative to the cylindrical wall of the bore to allowinitial contact by a container neck with the disc at a location oppositethe unscored hinge portion as the neck is threadedly advanced in theport. Instructions are provided for connecting the chamber member to astandard container having a threaded neck sized to fit the threadedport.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent in the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment, when read in conjunction with the appendeddrawings wherein the same reference numerals depict the same or similarparts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a container system, illustrated incondition for sale to a customer, including an upper chamber whichembodies the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional exploded view of the upper and a lower chamber forthe container.

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded enlarged view, partly elevational andpartly sectional, illustrating the interface between the chambers.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of threads for the chambers.

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic view illustrating the chambers in positionfor sale of the container, inactivated, to customers.

FIG. 6 is a partial view similar to that of FIG. 5 illustrating thecontainer after activation thereof.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic illustrations of alternative embodiments ofthe container system.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the container taken along lines 9-9 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a container usable in thecontainer system of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a chambermember which embodies the present invention for attachment to thecontainer of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the container of FIG. 10 with thechamber member of FIG. 11 attached.

FIG. 13 is a detail sectional view illustrating the attaching of thecontainer of FIG. 10 to the chamber member of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a view taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a detail sectional view illustrating the container of FIG. 10attached to the chamber member of FIG. 11 for mixing of ingredientstherein.

FIG. 16 is a side schematic view illustrating an alternative containerattached to an alternative chamber member for mixing of ingredientstherein in accordance with the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIGS. 1 to 9 disclose a two-part container system as disclosed in myparent application Ser. No. 11/167,437, including a molded upper chambermember 12 having a threaded port 40 which has a seal molded integrallytherewith. Thereafter, FIGS. 10 to 16 disclose a chamber member, whichis also molded and has a threaded port 40 which has a seal moldedintegrally therewith, for use with a standard container.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 and 9, there is shown generally at 10 acontainer in the form or appearance of a bottle having a pair of upperand lower chamber members 12 and 14 each containing a liquid (or othersuitable material), illustrated at 16 and 18 respectively, to be mixedand the resultant mixture dispensed through outlet 20 in the upper endof upper chamber member 12. For example, the liquids 16 and 18 may beperoxide/activator and dye respectively which, when mixed, form a haircoloring to be dispensed (poured or accessed) through opening 20 onto acustomer's hair. The outlet 20 is conventionally in the form of a neck22 having external threads, illustrated at 24, which threadedly receivean internally threaded screw cap 26, which is desirably of aconstruction which allows it to be applied inexpensively by standardcapping machinery, for closing thereof. However, the outlet 20 may beclosed by any other suitable closure, such as, but not limited to, aplug, snap cap, membrane, or metal lid.

In accordance with the present invention, it is not required that themixture be dispensed from the container. Thus, there are applications ofthe present invention which do not require dispensing, for example,heating or cooling packs or light sticks.

The chamber members 12 and 14 are shown to each be cylindrical with acylindrical vertical wall 28 and 30 respectively, a generally flat upperroof or ceiling portion 32 and 34 respectively, and a generally flatlower floor 36 and 38 respectively, the wall extending verticallybetween the respective roof and floor. The vertical wall 30 is desirablynormal to the upper chamber roof 32 and the lower chamber floor 38,which are accordingly horizontal. The diameters of the walls 28 and 30are desirably equal so as to provide the pleasing bottle appearanceshown in FIG. 1 when the chamber members 12 and 14 are connected asdiscussed hereinafter. However, the chambers 12 and 14 may be of anyother suitable size and shape.

The chamber members 12 and 14 may desirably be composed of moldedplastic material which allows them to be cost effectively manufacturedon standard plastic molding machinery, and the bottle 10 may be filledand assembled cost effectively, as discussed hereinafter, on generallystandard packaging machinery. The small number of bottle parts alsohelps to keep the manufacturing cost low. The chambers 12 and 14 mayhowever be fabricated from any other suitable materials, such as, forexample, metal, glass, composite materials such as carbon fiber, orflexible materials such as flexible bags.

The lower chamber 14 has a cylindrical neck or spout or nozzle 42 whichextends from its roof 34 and which is receivable in a cylindrical portor recess 40 in the upper chamber floor 36. It should however beunderstood that, alternatively, the neck may be on the upper chamber 12while the port may be in the lower chamber 14. The port 40 is shownrecessed into the upper chamber 12. However, in the event that drainageof the upper chamber 36 into the lower chamber 14 is desired or ifotherwise desired, the port 40 may be located externally. The diametersof the neck 42 and the port 40 are substantially equal (the neckdiameter being slightly less than the port diameter) to afford adesirably generally tight or snug slip or press or friction fittherebetween which allows the chambers 14 and 16 to be held togetherprior to connecting the chambers as discussed hereinafter with respectto FIG. 6 but which allows manipulation of the chambers for suchconnection.

A thread, illustrated at 44, is molded or otherwise suitably provided onthe port 40, and a mating thread, illustrated at 46, is molded orotherwise suitably provided on the neck 42 for threadedly connecting thechamber members 12 and 14, as seen in FIG. 6.

The inner end of the port 40 is sealingly closed by a frangible wall 48,i.e., the wall 48 has a frangible or breakaway disc 52 defined by ascore line, illustrated at 50 in FIG. 9, or formed by other suitablemeans such as angling. In accordance with the present invention, thescore line 50 does not extend entirely around the disc 52 therebyleaving a hinge portion, illustrated at 54, so that the disc can remainattached, as illustrated in FIG. 6, to prevent it from floating free inthe chamber 12. The breakaway may be otherwise suitably constructed. Forexample, the score line may be extended entirely around the disc when itis desirable to break the disc completely loose from the port. Thebreakaway disc 52 is slanted slightly relative to the cylindrical wall56 of the port 40 so that the wall 56 is desirably lowest or shortest atthe point, illustrated at 58, opposite the hinge portion 54 therebyallowing initial contact with the disc 52 at the point 58 opposite thehinge portion 54 for effective breaking and lifting of the disc 52.

The neck 42 is molded to have an open terminal end, which is thereaftercovered, to keep the chamber 14 sealed until the time of activation, bya sealing but easily pierceable frangible membrane 60 such as, forexample, plastic or aluminum foil. The membrane 60 is suitably attachedto the neck 42 such as by an adhesive. A pointed member or knife orblade 62 is molded into the outer surface of the breakaway member 52 forpiercing the seal 60 to allow the release of the fluid 18 from chamber14 as the neck 42 is screwed into contact with the blade 62. If desired,the blade 62 may be a separate member suitably attached to the disc 52.The blade 62 is shown as a pointed member located at the position 50,but it may be otherwise suitably positioned and shaped, for example, itmay extend a substantial distance around the circumstance of thebreakaway disc 52 to provide more effective tearing away of the membrane60.

A bead ring 64 is molded around the outer surface of the portcylindrical wall 56 to seal the connection of the chambers 12 and 14 toprevent leakage.

Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of ratchet members 66 are molded intothe thread 44, and a plurality of mating ratchet members 68 are moldedinto the thread 46. Alternatively, the ratchet members 66 and 68 may bemolded onto the port 40 and neck 42 respectively. The ratchet members 66interlock with the ratchet members 68 to enforce one-way movement andthus to resist unscrewing or prevent unintentional unscrewing of thethreaded connection. Thus, as the thread 46 is screwed relative tothread 44, the slanted engaging surfaces 70 and 72 thereof respectivelyallow the screwing to occur. However, the substantially squared surfaces74 and 76 respectively thereof, which engage during attemptedunscrewing, are provided to prevent unscrewing of the connection.Alternatively, the port lug or thread 44 may be suitably provided with adetent so that, when rotation is complete, the neck lug or thread 46will snap into or beyond the detent to prevent accidental disassembly aswell as to provide an indication that the chamber members have beencompletely screwed together.

The chamber wall 28 extends below the port wall 56 a distance equalsubstantially to the height of the neck 42 so that the bottle 10 may besold and kept prior to activation with substantially no space betweenthe chamber cylindrical walls 28 and 30, as seen in FIG. 5. The chamber12 has a collapsible dished bottom wall 78 extending between the bottomsof the cylindrical port and chamber walls 56 and 28 respectively, i.e.,the bottom wall 78 extends at an angle between the port and chamberwalls 56 and 28 respectively which gives it the appearance of a dish andis adapted to be collapible into a generally flat configuration asillustrated in FIG. 6. The dished wall 78 is desirably corrugated, asillustrated by corrugations 80, to provide such collapsibility and thusaid in pulldown when activating, as seen in FIG. 6. If desired, thebottoms of the chamber walls 56 and 28 may be in alignment horizontally,and the wall 78 (which need not then be collapsible or require pulldown)may accordingly be flat to provide a gap between the chambers prior toactivation as a visual indication of integrity, i.e., that the bottlehas not been activated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, there is shown the bottle 10 inactivated andpackaged for sale. The two chamber members 12 and 14 may be filled andclosed on conventional filling lines. At the end of the line the chambermember 14 will be mounted to the chamber member 12. The neck 42 of thelower chamber 14 is press or friction fit into the port 40 of the upperchamber 12 so that the neck thread 46 abuts the port thread 44, theupper end of the neck 42 is within the sealing bead 64, the upper end ofthe lower chamber cylindrical wall 30 engages the lower end of the upperchamber cylindrical wall 28 so that there is no gap therebetween, andthe foil membrane 60 is just out of engagement with the blade 62. Thethreads are located in accordance with principles commonly known tothose of ordinary skill in the art to which the present inventionpertains to prevent the blade 62 from engaging the membrane 60 prior tothe act of screwing the neck 42 into the port 40. The slip fit isprovided to hold the chamber members 12 and 14 together temporarilyuntil label 82 is applied, as hereinafter discussed, to securely holdthem together until the time of activation. The thusly assembledcontainer 10 is shipped and ultimately sold to the end user with thefluids 16 and 18 remaining segregated and unmixed.

The container 10 may, if desired, be provided with a skirt to allow thecontainer 10 to be free-standing. The skirt may be molded into thecontainer 10 or may be a separate piece attached thereto.

When the chambers 12 and 14 are assembled (with the container 10inactivated) at the time of manufacture, the chamber 12 should normallyprovide protection against accidental puncture of the membrane 60. Insome cases such as for medical infusion products, it may be desirable todistribute the two chambers 12 and 14 separately. The thusly exposedmembrane 60 may then be exposed to accidental puncture. In order toprotect the exposed membrane 60, an overcap of plastic or other suitablematerial may be provided on the neck 42 to protectively cover themembrane 60. The neck 42 may be provided with threads or a lip to permitscrewing or snapping of the overcap, which would be removed by the enduser prior to assembly of the chambers 12 and 14.

Referring to FIG. 6, the bottle 10 is easily and quickly activated by acustomer by twisting the lower chamber 14 relative to the upper chamber12 to screw the neck 42 further into the port 40, as seen by the neckthread 46 being to the inside of the port thread 44 in FIG. 6. Duringthis movement, the corrugated wall 78 is pulled down to the positionshown in FIG. 6. This movement causes the foil membrane 60 to engage theblade 62 and thus become torn thereby allowing release of the fluid 18from the lower chamber 14. This movement also causes the neck 42 to raminto the breakaway portion 52 initially near point 58 to break theportion 52 along score line 50 causing the breakaway portion 52 to swingupwardly thereby allowing release of the fluid 16 from the upper chamber12. As seen in FIG. 6, the mere twisting of the lower chamber 14relative to the upper chamber 12 thus effects the opening of thechambers to each other to easily and quickly allow the intermixing ofthe fluids 16 and 18 by the customer shaking the activated bottle 10,which mixture can then be poured through upper opening 20. The matingratchet portions 66 and 68 on the threads 44 and 46 resist loosening ordisconnection of the connection, and the seal 46 acts to prevent escapeof the mixture from the bottle 10 except through opening 20.

After the bottle 10 is assembled as shown in FIG. 5, a label 82 issuitably placed about the bottle 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, so thatit is attached to both the lower and upper chambers 12 and 14respectively to aid in holding the chambers 12 and 14 in the desiredunactivated position during shipment and handling to thereby preventaccidental activation as well as to prevent separation of the chambers12 and 14. The label 82 also serves as an indicator or evidence ofwhether the bottle 10 has been activated, i.e., if the label 80 is tornor broken, it indicates that the lower chamber 14 has been twistedrelative to the upper chamber 12 and that the bottle 10 may have beenactivated. The label is preferably scored or perforated, as illustratedat 84, along the intersection or junction of the chambers 12 and 14 toallow the tearing of the label 80 along the score line 84 (the offsetupper and lower portions of the label 82 serving as an activationindicator) to facilitate activation and for a more pleasing activatedbottle appearance. Arrows may be included on the parts of the label 80on opposite sides of the score line 84 (or junction between chambers)which align when activated as a further indicator that the container 10has become activated.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated generally at 100 a container,activated, in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The container100 includes a lower chamber member 102 having an opening 104 fordispensing therefrom a mixture mixed in the container 100. The opening104 may have a screw-style or other suitable closure 106. The container100 also has a plurality (two shown) of ports 108, which may be similarto port 40, which receive the necks 110, which may be similar to necks42, of upper chamber members 112. Thus, container 100 with a chambermember 102 having multiple ports 108 (located on the top, side, and/ortop of the member 102) is provided to mix any number of liquids or othersubstances for dispensing of the mixed product out the opening 104.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is illustrated generally at 120 a combinationof a disposable plastic cereal bowl 122 and a disposable plastic chamberor bottle 138 containing milk, illustrated at 140, in accordance with analternative embodiment. The milk may be UHT (ultra-high temperature)milk to thus eliminate the need for refrigerated storage. The bowl 122has a bottom wall 124 and a circular side wall 126 extending upwardlytherefrom to an upper opening, illustrated at 128. The bowl 122 may beotherwise suitably shaped such as with 4 side walls instead of thecircular wall. The bowl 122 may alternatively have a spout so the cerealcan be slurped from the bowl thus eliminating the need for a spoon andperhaps also a wrapper (i.e., less packaging components so that theproduct may be less expensive) and allows one-handed use, facilitatingeating on-the-go. The bowl 122 contains cereal, illustrated at 130, andits upper opening 128 is covered with foil, illustrated at 132, or othersuitable protective membrane or sheet. The bowl 122 has in its side wall126 a port 134, which may be similar to port 40, which receives the neck136, which may be similar to neck 42, of chamber member 138. This allowsmilk to be mixed with cereal and eaten while on-the-go by commuters,travelers, and students easily and quickly, without fear of spilling, bytwisting the chamber member 138 to activate the container 120 andturning the container 120 on its side to allow the milk 140 to be mixedwith the cereal 130, then removing the foil 132, then eating. The milkbottle 138 may remain in place to act as a handle for ease in handling.Soups, stews, and the like may similarly be provided for eatingon-the-go, perhaps adapting technologies such as used for militaryrations.

In addition to hair coloring and breakfast cereals, examples of otheruses for such a container include, but are not limited to, products suchas fiberglass wherein an activator is added to and mixed with a resinprior to use (perhaps with the incorporation of a brush, roller, orother applicator in the container so that the resin can be activated,mixed, and applied without the need to remove product from the containerfor application), medical pharmaceutical products such as dry productsrequiring reconstitution with water prior to use or infusion therapiessuch as wherein an active compound is added to an IV bag, paint colormixing wherein a neutral base is mixed with a color or tint, heating orcooling packs, and light sticks.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is illustrated generally at 200 a standardPET bottle with a standard threaded neck 206 containing spring water,illustrated at 202, as is typically found in a grocery store. It shouldof course be understood that the container 200 may contain an othersuitable ingredient. The bottle or container 200 has a generally uprightmolded clear plastic cylindrical (or otherwise suitably shaped) body 204containing the water 202 and terminating upwardly in the threaded neck206 (having thread 207), which defines an opening 208, with a stop ring210, the opening closable with a typical internally threaded cap 212, asis typical for spring water bottles. A suitable label 214 is applied toidentify the water 202 or other ingredient contained therein.

When used herein and in the claims, the term “standard,” with referenceto a bottle or container, refers to one similar to the bottles orcontainers commonly available in stores for the particular ingredient(in this case, spring water), including being devoid of a threaded boreextending into the bottle or container. Thus, for reasons that willbecome apparent, the container 200 (when devoid of a threaded boreextending into the container, as is typical of spring water and otherbottles) and the chamber member 220 hereinafter described have differentshapes, i.e., they are not identical in shape.

Referring to FIG. 11, the chamber member 220 contains a flavored powder222 to be mixed with the water 202 to make a beverage, or the chambermember may contain another suitable ingredient to be mixed with thefirst ingredient 202. The chamber member 220 is composed of molded clearplastic so that it may be cost effectively manufactured on standardplastic molding machinery (but may be molded of other suitablematerial), and the chamber member 220 may resultingly be filled andassembled cost effectively on generally standard packaging machinery.The resulting single molded piece (or small number of parts) also helpsto keep the manufacturing cost low.

The chamber member 220 has a generally cylindrical body 224 containingthe flavored powder 222 and terminating upwardly in a threaded neck 226(having thread 228), which defines an opening 230, the opening 230closable, like for bottle 200, with a cap, as will be discussed ingreater detail hereinafter. When packaged to be sold, the opening 228may have a suitable seal member 232 such as a foil or plastic membraneadhesively or otherwise suitably applied thereto to be pulled orotherwise suitably removed therefrom for use by the customer or may havea cap. It may, if needed, like bottle 200, have a stop ring (not shown).

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15 as well as FIG. 11, the chamber member hasin its bottom a threaded port, illustrated at 234, (having a cylindricalwall 236 formed with threads 238) which extends upwardly into the body224. The upper end of the port 234 is closed by a frangible wall 240(serving as a breakable seal as hereinafter discussed) which is moldedintegrally with the cylindrical wall to achieve good integrity as wellas inexpensive manufacture. The port 234, cylindrical wall 236, thread238, and seal 240, as applicable, are similar to the port 40,cylindrical wall 56, thread 44, and wall 48 respectively of chambermember 12.

The port thread 238 is sized to have the same size as the thread 207 onthe desired standard bottle 200 so that the neck 206 of such a standardbottle with that thread size is threadedly receivable within thethreaded port 234, as illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13, and 15, after removalof the cap 212 and seal member 232 or other closure for chamber memberneck 226.

Similarly as discussed relative to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, thesealing wall 240 has a frangible or breakaway disc 250 defined by ascore line, illustrated at 252, or formed by other suitable means suchas angling. In accordance with the present invention, the score line 252does not extend entirely around the disc 250 thereby leaving a hingeportion, illustrated at 254, so that the disc can remain attached, asillustrated in FIG. 15, to prevent it from floating free in the chamber220. The breakaway disc 250 may be otherwise suitably constructed. Forexample, the score line 252 may be extended entirely around the discwhen it is desirable to break the disc completely loose from the port.The breakaway disc 250 is slanted slightly, by a small angle illustratedat 256 in FIG. 13, relative to the cylindrical wall 236 of the port 234so that the wall 236 is desirably lowest or shortest at the point,illustrated at 258, opposite the hinge portion 254 thereby allowinginitial contact by the terminal end of the bottle neck 206 with the disc250 at the point 258 opposite the hinge portion 254 for effectivebreaking and lifting of the disc 250, as illustrated at 270, as the neck206 is screwed further upwardly, as illustrated at 260, to the positionillustrated in FIG. 15. It should be understood that the wall 240 may bemade frangible by other suitable means such as, for example, a series ofradial score lines. With the seal 250 lifted up to open the inner end ofthe port 234 and with the neck tightly screwed into the port 234, thepowder 222 may freely move through the neck 206 into the bottle 200, asillustrated in FIG. 15, and likewise the water 202 may freely movethrough the neck 206 into the bottle 230, thus allowing mixture of thepowder 222 and water 202 to form a drinkable beverage.

The chamber member neck thread 228 is preferably sized to be the samesize as the bottle neck thread 207 so that the chamber member neck 226can accept the bottle neck cap 212, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12,to thereby reduce manufacturing cost by not having to manufacture aseparate cap for the chamber member 220 and providing the lower costsealing member 232 instead. Thus, the chamber member dispensing openingor neck 226 can accept the water bottle cap 212 for re-closure of theassembled package.

The water bottle 200 and powder container 230 may be sold as a unit in apackage or otherwise as suitable. Alternatively, the water bottle 200and powder container 230 may be provided by different marketers atdifferent locations in a store. In order to avoid confusion by thecustomer, the label 264 on the powder container 230 containsinstructions, illustrated at 266, to the purchaser as to which bottlesof water can be used with the container 230, i.e., the instructions willdirect the customer to only those bottles of water whose neck threads207 have the same size as the chamber member port thread 238, and thelabel 264 may also instruct the customer as to how to attach the bottleand chamber member to achieve the mixing of the ingredients. Suchinstructions may consist of or comprise instructions on locating asuitable container. It should of course be understood that suchinstructions may be provided otherwise such as, for example, on thepackaging.

For “on-the-go” eating of cereal, the pouring of milk can beinconvenient and awkward and messy, i.e., spillage may occur. Referringto FIG. 16, in order to eliminate the requirement for pouring of themilk, an “on-the-go” cereal assembly, shown generally at 300, isprovided which utilizes a 2 to 3 ounce bottle 302 of milk 304 having athreaded neck 306 which is threadedly receivable in a threaded port 308extending into a bowl 310 of cereal 312. The bowl may be formed ofthermofoam similarly as other single serve containers on the market.Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 10 to 15, the terminal end of theneck 306 is caused to break and lift a breakaway disc 314, which issimilar to disc 250, to allow flow of milk 304 into the bowl of cereal,thus eliminating the requirement of “pouring” the milk. A suitable uppercover or lid 316 of foil or other suitable material is removable (or mayonly be partially removed) from an upper opening 320 to allow the eatingof the cereal, which may, if desired, be “slurped” directly from thebowl with the lid partially open, without the need for a spoon. The port308 is formed into a vertical or side wall 318 of the bowl 310 so thatthe bottle 302 can serve as a handle for the eating of the cereal 312conveniently, and the assembly can be connected so as to minimizeinconvenience and spillage and the like. With the bottle 302 serving asa handle, the cereal may be eaten one-handed on-the-go. The milk 304 maybe UHT (ultra high temperature) to eliminate the need for refrigeration.

While two applications are illustrated herein for the embodiments ofFIGS. 10 to 16, it should be understood that other suitable applicationstherefor may be envisioned.

It should be understood that, while the present invention has beendescribed in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwisewithout departing from the principles thereof. For example, the chambermember can be made in varied shapes and sizes and of varied materials.Such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A chamber member for containing a first ingredient for attaching to acontainer containing a second ingredient in a manner for mixing thefirst and second ingredients, the chamber member molded to define a portextending into the chamber member and having a threaded cylindrical wallfor threadedly receiving a threaded neck of the container, the chambermember having a portion which is integral with said cylindrical wall andwhich sealingly closes an inner end of said port, and the chamber memberfurther having a score line formed into and extending partially aroundsaid portion thereby defining a breakaway disc having an unscored hingeportion, said breakaway disc being slanted relative to said portcylindrical wall to allow initial contact by said neck with saidbreakaway disc at a location opposite said unscored hinge portion assaid neck is threadedly advanced in said port.
 2. A chamber memberaccording to claim 1 further comprising in combination therewith meansproviding instructions for attaching the chamber member to a containerfor mixing the ingredients.
 3. A chamber member according to claim 1further having at least one threaded neck defining a dispensing opening,said at least one threaded neck having a size to threadedly fit saidthreaded cylindrical wall, whereby a threaded cap threadedly receivableon the container neck is also threadedly receivable on said at least onechamber member neck.
 4. A chamber member according to claim 1 comprisinga single piece of molded plastic.
 5. A chamber member containing a firstingredient for attaching to a container having a threaded neck whichdefines an opening and containing a second ingredient in a manner formixing the first and second ingredients, the chamber member being moldedto define a port extending into the chamber member and having a threadedcylindrical wall for threadedly receiving the threaded neck, the chambermember having a portion which is integral with said cylindrical wall andwhich sealingly closes an inner end of said port, said portion beingformed to be frangible so as to break as the neck is threadedly advancedin said port to bear against said portion thereby to allow the first andsecond ingredients to pass between a container and the chamber memberfor mixing thereof, and means in combination with the chamber memberproviding instructions for attaching the chamber member to a containerfor mixing the ingredients.
 6. A chamber member according to claim 5wherein said instructions include instructions on how to locate asuitable container for use with the chamber member.
 7. A chamber memberaccording to claim 5 further having at least one threaded neck defininga dispensing opening, said at least one threaded neck having a size tothreadedly fit said threaded cylindrical wall, whereby a threaded capthreadedly receivable on the container neck is also threadedlyreceivable on said at least one chamber member neck.
 8. A chamber memberaccording to claim 5 comprising molded plastic.
 9. A chamber memberaccording to claim 5 wherein the chamber member further has a score lineformed into and extending partially around said portion thereby defininga breakaway disc having an unscored hinge portion, said breakaway discbeing slanted relative to said port cylindrical wall to allow initialcontact by said neck with said breakaway disc at a location oppositesaid unscored hinge portion as said neck is threadedly advanced in saidport.
 10. A chamber member according to claim 5 wherein the chambermember contains a powder for mixing with a liquid in the container fordrinking the mixture thereof.
 11. A chamber member according to claim 5wherein the chamber member has at least one side wall, wherein thechamber member contains cereal for mixing with milk in the container foreating thereof, and wherein said port extends into said side wall,whereby to permit the container to serve as a handle.
 12. In combinationwith a container which has a threaded neck defining an opening and whichis devoid of a threaded port extending into said container, a chambermember attachable to said container in a manner to allow mixing of firstand second ingredients in said chamber member and said containerrespectively, said chamber member being molded to define a portextending into said chamber member and having a threaded cylindricalwall integral therewith for threadedly receiving said threaded neck,said chamber member having a portion which is integral with saidcylindrical wall and which sealingly closes an inner end of said chambermember port, said portion being formed to be frangible so as to break assaid neck is threadedly advanced in said port to bear against saidportion thereby to allow the ingredients to pass between said containerand said chamber member for mixing thereof.
 13. A chamber memberaccording to claim 12 further comprising in combination therewith meansproviding instructions for attaching the chamber member to the containerfor mixing the ingredients.
 14. A chamber member according to claim 12further having at least one threaded neck defining a dispensing opening,said threaded container neck and said threaded chamber member neckhaving the same size, and a threaded cap which is threadedly receivableon both said threaded container neck and said threaded chamber memberneck.
 15. A chamber member according to claim 12 comprising moldedplastic.
 16. A chamber member according to claim 12 wherein the chambermember further has a score line formed into and extending partiallyaround said portion thereby defining a breakaway disc having an unscoredhinge portion, said breakaway disc being slanted relative to said portcylindrical wall to allow initial contact by said neck with saidbreakaway disc at a location opposite said unscored hinge portion assaid neck is threadedly advanced in said port.
 17. A chamber memberaccording to claim 12 wherein the chamber member and the containercontain powder and a liquid respectively for mixing for drinking themixture thereof.
 18. A chamber member according to claim 12 wherein thecontainer is a bottle containing water.
 19. A chamber member accordingto claim 12 wherein the chamber member has at least one side wall,wherein the chamber member contains cereal and the container containsmilk for mixing with the cereal for eating thereof.
 20. A chamber memberaccording to claim 12 wherein the chamber member has at least one sidewall, wherein the chamber member contains cereal and the containercontains milk for mixing with the cereal for eating thereof, and whereinsaid port extends into said side wall thereby to effect orientation ofthe container to serve as a handle for holding the cereal mixed withmilk while eating it.